Mark Drakeford: I do share the Member's welcome for the borrowing powers that we will have. As I'm sure she would point out to me, borrowed money has to be repaid. Therefore, it's a careful balancing act required in investing today and being confident that we are able to pay back the money that we've borrowed in the future. But I regard that, as I think she was just suggesting, as an investment in the future...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, one of the things that's apparent from the questions we've had this afternoon is the understanding that the borrowing we're able to now draw down is available for a whole range of potential purposes here in Wales. I know that my Cabinet colleagues will be coming to me, all of them, with worthwhile schemes that they will want to take forward to invest in—essential...
Mark Drakeford: Cardiac arrests are included in the red—‘immediately life-threatened’—category and patients will always receive a blue light and sirens response, typically receiving multiple ambulance service resources in around four minutes. Paramedics in Wales follow the Resuscitation Council (UK) guidelines for the management of cardiac arrest.
Mark Drakeford: 'Trade Policy: the issues for Wales' called for the UK Government to develop overarching principles for trade policy, including the promotion of fair and ethical trade. We are committed to ensuring that the UK Government will honour their commitment to continued preferential arrangements for developing countries.
Mark Drakeford: The Welsh NHS has shown annual improvement in waiting times since August 2015. The £50 million additional expenditure in 2017-18, ministerial scrutiny and official monitoring of delivery, including the implementation of actions from the planned care programme, will continue to maintain this focus.
Mark Drakeford: Good early progress is being made on priority 1 following publication of the delivery plan in November. For example, working with local authorities and engaging with stakeholders, the priority projects are being determined for each strategic hub and officials are on track to agree initial costed investment by April.
Mark Drakeford: The approach to strengthening local government is under consideration. Proposals will be set out in due course.
Mark Drakeford: Our recently updated national transport finance plan sets out an ambitious programme of road, rail, bus and active travel improvements as part of a balanced and sustainable plan for transport investment across Wales. The plan identifies the extent of planned investment over the forthcoming years.
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, thank you for the opportunity to make a statement on the latest meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Union Negotiations)—the JMC(EN)—which was held in London on Thursday last, 22 February. The JMC was chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington, and was attended by the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, and...
Mark Drakeford: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I'll try to take those questions in order.
Mark Drakeford: Mr Isherwood is right that the JMC did discuss devolved administrations' involvement in phase 2 negotiations. We had discussed exactly this point during our meeting in the middle of December, where UK Ministers agreed that there would be the need for a different level of participation in phase 2 discussions, because direct devolved responsibilities will be at stake in them. It was agreed in...
Mark Drakeford: Presiding Officer, thank you to Simon Thomas for the questions.
Mark Drakeford: I didn't mention, he is quite right, the business of the common internal market within the United Kingdom in my statement because the position of the Welsh Government has been, from the very beginning, that we entirely understand the need for an orderly transfer of EU law into the domestic statute book in a way that will allow the United Kingdom to operate effectively into the future. In many...
Mark Drakeford: Well, of course, Mr Hamilton is right: we have profound disagreements between the position taken on the whole business of Europe and leaving the European Union, between the position taken by the Welsh Government and the position that his party—as he himself has regularly outlined it here on the floor of the Assembly. But, in the ecumenical spirit of his contribution this afternoon, let me...
Mark Drakeford: Can I begin by saying just how good it is to have Steffan Lewis participating in discussions of this matter here this afternoon and how much I think the contribution that he has made up until now and again today helps us to think our way through some of these very complex and important matters? So, I agree with him that I think our continuity Bill, the law derived from the European Union...
Mark Drakeford: Llywydd, overriding Sewel would be a major constitutional issue. I don't like using the word 'crisis', because it's bandied about too often here, but the UK Government has never been in a position where it agrees that the consent of this National Assembly is needed to a piece of legislation, and then if it didn't secure that consent, to go ahead anyway. And if it were to find itself in that...
Mark Drakeford: Well, Llywydd, I absolutely hope that the Member is right that we are on the threshold of reaching an agreement. I agree with him that settling this matter through a withdrawal Bill that respects devolution is the right and best way to do it. Again, if we're looking to be optimistic, David Lidington I think is one of those UK Ministers who probably does grasp the idea of shared governance,...
Mark Drakeford: I thank the Member for both those questions. I want to say, again, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the JMC has been a better forum since the autumn of last year than it was previously, and that there has been constructive talk by UK Ministers. What we have to see now, as the First Minister said yesterday, is a move away from the warm words and into the actions that are necessary to secure consent. Why...
Mark Drakeford: I thank David Rees for those questions, and for the work that he and this committee have done in this area. When I was in front of the House of Lords for a briefing session, the fact that his committee had met with parliamentary Brexit committees was very well recognised. The work of the committee has undoubtedly had an influence in making sure that Welsh views are clearly represented and...
Mark Drakeford: Our framework for action on independent living sets out how we are working to remove barriers so that disabled people have access to the same opportunities as everyone else. Equality of access to transport, education and health are all key areas for action, along with the physical environment.
